With a potential federal government shutdown looming, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has introduced a bill that would withhold the pay of members of Congress during the shutdown. (WCHS/WVAH)

WASHINGTON (WCHS) —

With a potential federal government shutdown looming, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., has introduced a bill that would withhold the pay of members of Congress during the shutdown.

“In West Virginia, we know that when you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. If Congress can’t come together to fulfill one of our most basic constitutional obligations, then we don’t deserve to get paid either,” Manchin said in a release.

The release said in accordance with the 27th Amendment forbidding Congress from raising or lowering its pay, the No Government No Pay Act of 2018 would take effect during the 116th Congress and would be applied to each new Congress going forward.

The legislation has been cosponsored by Democratic Senators Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

A similar bill was introduced in the House by Minnesota Democrat Rick Nolan.